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This is the third of five articles on medical cannabis and its use as a peripheral neuropathy treatment.

How Does Cannabis Work

by Dr. Rosemary Mazanet

In Part 2 of this series we described the history of cannabis and explained that there are two different species: Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa. This installment will describe how each of these strains are used as a peripheral neuropathy treatment.

Scientists have determined that genetic differences between the two strains result in the production of a predominant amount of a particular chemical (called a cannabinoid) such as THC or CBD. The amounts of THC or CBD, as well as the numerous secondary components present in smaller amounts that may also provide unique benefits determine how the cannabis plants are recommended for different medicinal purposes. Today’s pharmaceutical grade medical cannabis (non flower) is usually designated by its THC:CBD ratio.

Main uses for THC:CBD Ratios

THC predominant

Analgesic/”Opiate Type Pain Relief”

Appetite Stimulant

Nausea

Sleep

Muscle Relaxation

CBD predominant

Neuropathic Pain Relief

Anti-Inflammatory

Anxiolytic

Cytotoxic

Antispasmodic

Anticonvulsant/Seizures

Cannabis effects on human physiology

It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that scientists discovered WHY marijuana exerts so many effects in the human body. The body makes its own endocannabinoids (i.e. anandamide, 2-AG), which are part of a system, the Endocannabinoid System that influences multiple physiological processes such as:

Modulation of Pain

Seizure threshold

Appetite

Inflammation

Mood

Regulation of Immune system

Tumor surveillance

Intraocular pressure

Bone physiology

Digestion

These endocannabinoids circulate in the blood stream and bind to cannabinoid receptors in order to have their effect. The amounts of endocannabinoids that are physiologic in humans is low enough to not have euphoric or central nervous system effects that are apparent.

There are currently two subtypes of cannabinoid receptors that are well characterized. The CB1 receptors are highly concentrated in the brain and nerve endings and the CB2 receptor is expressed mainly on cells of the immune system and blood forming cells. There are also less well understood VR1 receptors.

The cannabinoids in agricultural cannabis or marijuana (Phytocannabinoids, i.e. THC, CBD) bind and activate or inactivate these receptors in the body in much the same way as the human produced endocannabinoids do, at the receptor. When THC enters the blood stream and reaches the brain, it binds to CB1 receptors much the same way as an endocannabinoid would (like in Figure 4), except at a pharmacological dose rather than a physiological dose. This type of binding results in changes in the levels of various neurotransmitters (like dopamine and norepinephrine) released from the neurons. The result for the patient is the acute effects of cannabis ingestion, such as euphoria and anxiety.

Figure 4: Cannabinoid receptor. As is shown in this graphic, THC and CBD, the main components of medical cannabis bind specifically to receptors on the surface of nerve cells (neurons). Animal studies show that the effects (both positive and negative) from medical cannabis are predictable and undeniable.

There are two subtypes of cannabinoid receptors that are currently well characterized. The CB1 receptors are highly concentrated in the brain and nerve endings and the CB2 receptor is expressed mainly on cells of the immune system and blood forming cells. There are also less well understood VR1 receptors.

Unlike the psychoactive THC, CBD has little binding affinity to either the CB1 or CB2 receptors. Instead, CBD reduces the breakdown of the endocannabinoids the body has already made, indirectly increasing their amount and normal activity at the receptors. At the same time, CBD opposes the action of THC at the CB1 receptor, thereby muting the psychoactive effects of THC.

About the author: Dr. Rosemary Mazanet MD PhD was trained in Internal Medicine (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston) and Medical Oncology (Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston), and has been active in the Biotechnology community for the last 30 years. Currently she is involved in strategic drug development and is the head of the Scientific Advisory Board for Columbia Care, Inc, a company that grows and dispenses legal medical cannabis in 9 states.

4 Comments

[…] The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy recommends different ratios of THC to CBD when patients are looking to cannabis to treat their symptoms of pain. Patients who experience severe pain and trouble sleeping should look to strains that are high in THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana. Individuals who are accustomed to treating their pain with opiates should try strains that have a balanced ratio of THC to CBD, while those with milder symptoms of pain or are new to cannabis may want to start with strains that are higher in CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. […]

[…] Medical Cannabis for Treating Peripheral Neuropathy (3 of 5) – Feb 9, 2017. This is the third of five articles on medical cannabis and its use as a peripheral neuropathy treatment. How Does Cannabis Work. by Dr. Rosemary Mazanet. In Part 2 of this series we described the history of cannabis and explained that there are two different species: Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa. […]